Based in London Saunders will oversee the Western Europe and America’s Desks, with a team of 50 client advisers and support staff. John will report to Michael Mount, Managing Director, who leads the International Client Group based in the UK.

Prior to joining Coutts, Saunders spent five years at Barclays Wealth where he successfully built and ran specialist teams of High Net Worth bankers focused on RND, Court of Protection clients and charity, financial and city professionals.

Saunders has more than 20 years experience in the financial services industry, formerly as in-house Counsel for UBS Warburg and Head of Legal at UBS Wealth Management, latterly as Chief of Staff for UBS Wealth Management and Deputy Head of UBS’s UK Wealth Management business.

Saunders holds a law degree from Queens’ College, Cambridge and qualified and practiced as a solicitor with a leading City law firm before moving in-house. He is also a past member of the BBA Private Banking and Wealth Management Advisory Panel.

Michael Morley, Chief Executive, Coutts & Co commented: 'Coutts is delighted to welcome John to the team. With over 20 years’ industry experience, his appointment is confirmation of our commitment to the development of our services for international clients based in the UK. John’s expertise of working with notable RND’s from the legal, accountancy, finance and charity sectors will be a significant benefit to the existing business and his role within Coutts.'

Saunders commented: 'I am delighted to be joining Coutts with a mandate to focus on the RND market. This is an area in which Coutts has traditionally been strong, which remains of strategic importance, and we believe is one in which it can truly be differentiated and market leading.'